Switch mechanism.



PATENTED JUNE 18, 1905.

F. O. ANDERSON. SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented June 13,1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. ANDERSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO AMERICAN VALVE AND METER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF WVEST VIRGINIA.

SWITCH MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,384, dated June 13, 1905,

Application filed July 28, 1904. Serial No. 218,575.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK C. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speci- IO fication.

My invention relates primarily to the operating and signal-displaying mechanisms of switches for the main track of railways, where it is essential that the mechanism be of the I 5 best character and reliability, for both human life as well as very expensive property depend upon their reliability, although it is equally adaptable for switches in other locations as yard-sidings, for instanceor wherever switch-operating mechanism may be desired in railway practice. It has for its object the provision of novel, simple, and efficient means for insuring the proper operation of the switches and the proper display of the signals, whether they. be low-down targets with lanterns for night use or elevated semaphoretargets, such as are generally employed on main-line switches.

The novelty of my invention will be here- 3 inafter more fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a broken side elevation of switch-operating mechanism embodying my invention as applied to the switch of the main track and employing a semaphore for the signaling device. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the semaphore end of Fig. 1 looking to the right. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a view 4 corresponding to Fig. l with the switch-stand on one side of the track and a low-down signal-target on the opposite side. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the safetyclutch mechanism. Fig. 6 is a broken detail, enlarged, of the two hub-clutch members. Fig. 7 is an enlarged broken elevation of the semaphore glass-carrying member. Fig. 8 is a broken elevation of the top of the semaphorepost, showing the adjustingplate secured thereto. 5

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate identical parts in all the figures.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, where the semaphore mechanism is used and the switch-stand is on the same side of thetrack with the semaphore-post, 1 represents the main-track rails, 2 the cross-ties, and 3 the switchrail points. The switchstand 4 is preferably that of my prior patent, No. 746,911, of December 15, 1903, or that of 6 my present pending application, Serial No. 209,069, filed May 21, 1904, the essential features of which in the present constructionare the breakable arms which unite the targetrod or the shaft on which the target-rod might 5 be placed with the switch-throwing rod, by which the pointrails are shifted and which permit a train or locomotive to run through the switch when closed and open the pointrails without damage to the same, but thereby 7 breaking the crank-arm connection of the switch-stand and permitting a new one to be shifted and coupled on without loss of time or trouble to again put the switch into operating position. This of course would occur only when the locomotive was approaching the switch on its closed side, as explained in said former patent and application. As to the rest of the switch-stand mechanism it may be that of said prior patent and application 0 or of the usual or any suitable construction, and it is only necessary here in describing it to say that 5 is the bar connecting the switchpoints and 6 the operating-rod coupled to said bar and to one of the breakable crank-arms 5 7 (dotted lines, Fig. 3) of the switchrstand.

' 8 is the semaphore-post on the same side of the track as the switch-stand, provided at or near its top with the usual semaphore blade or target 18, secured to an arm 17, adjustably 9 pivoted to a plate 21, Fig. 8, secured to the side of the post. There are two of these arms 17 and 20 on opposite sides of the post and each provided with circularopenings 26,Which register with each other and which have fit- 5 ted therein the usual or any suitable colored glass,which is brought opposite the lantern 19 upon an adjustable bracket on the rear side of the post to give the proper signal at night, according to the adjusted position of the target-blade 18. The two plates 17 and 20 are fast upon the same pivot-bolt 27, so that they move in unison. A rod 16 is pivoted at its upper end to the plate 17 and at its lower end to the upper member of a bell-crank arm 9, pivoted, as at 10, at or near the bottom of the post, and the outer end of the operatingrod 6 is pivoted to the lower member of the bell-crank arm 9. The bell-crank arm 9 is fast on the end of a shaft 10, Figs. 2 and 5, journaled through the post and projecting on its opposite side, where it has fast on it one member 11 of a hub-clutch of the doubleratchet orderthat is to say, it has rounded projecting fingers, which engage correspondingly-shapedfingersintheopposinghub-clutch member 12, loose upon the shaft 10, so thatin whichever direction the shaft 10 may be rotated the fingers will slide upon and become disengaged from each other and then become reengaged, as will be readily understood. To effect this result, the clutch member 12, while loose upon the shaft 10, must not be permitted to turn thereon, and to that end its outer side is provided with a projecting perforated flange 29, through the perforations in which rods 13 pass, whose inner ends are suitably secured to a plate 30 upon the side of the post 8. The outer ends of the rods 13 pass through perforations in a follower-washer 31, between which washer and the outer side of the hub member 12 is confined a spring 10, coiled around the rod 10. Nuts 32 are screwed upon the outer threaded ends of the rods 13 and serve to hold the washer 31 in place, as well as to regulate the tension of the spring 10, as will be readily understood. The purpose of this tension-clutch mechanism is a very important one, as it insures the throwing of the target to an exact determined position at either of its extremes, according to the position of the switch-points, for it must be borne in mind that there is always more or less lost motion in the long coupling-arms and connections of the switch-operating point, and without this tension-regulated governor the target might not be given its full throw in one or, perhaps, both directions and confusion would be created in the mind of the engineer as to the position in which the switch-points stood, and in addition to this function of positively throwing the target to its exact indicating position this automatic mechanism also serves to positively throw and hold the switch-points tight to the main rails in either of their shiftable positions.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 1 and assuming that a train is approaching the switchpoints coming down the track from the top of the figure, the switch is closed to its passage under the adjustment of the parts shown; but when the wheel-flanges press against the pointrail on the left-hand side, as well as the opposite point-rail, the connecting-bar 5 and coupling-bar 6 will be thrown to the right. The switch-stand being locked, its crank-arm 7 will have to break, as it is the weakest member and is made breakable for this express purpose. The switch is then thrown by the passage of the wheels, and the bars 5 and 6 moving with the switch points will draw on the bell-crank arm 9 and will throw the semaphore-target against the resistance of the hubclutches 11 and 12 and spring 10 into the proper indicating position to show that the switch-points have been thrown over, and the true position of the switch will be indicated. As in my former patent and application, the switch-stand can be readily and instantly reconnected with the operating-rod 6 by bring ing around an unbroken crank-arm to be connected to the rod 6, and then the switch-stand is brought into action to operate the parts in the usual and normal way. By this construction and in this simple manner the semaphoretarget will always indicate in a true positive manner the position of the switch-points, and all danger will beobviated.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 5, I have provided a covering-hood for the clutch-governing mechanism, which is lettered 1 1.

In Fig. 4: I have shown the switch-stand on one side of the track and a low-down operating-target 25 on the opposite side of the track, said target being supported on a shaft 24:, which corresponds with the shaft 10 and which has at its lower end a crank-arm 36, to which the extension 6 of the operating-rod 5 is connected. The shaft 24: has fast upon it the lower member 11 of the hub-clutch, corresponding to the member 11 of the hub-clutch of Fig. 5, and has loose upon it the upper member of the hub-clutch 12, corresponding with the upper member 12 of Fig. 5, and has the tension-spring 10 and all the other features for regulating the same, as in Fig. 5, and the operation of the parts is the same as where a semaphore-post is used, as will be readily understood. In this latter case the target-rod 24 is squared at its top to carry a varicolored lantern at night to indicate the position of the switch-points.

As a convenient means for pivoting the semaphore-target members 17 and 18 to the post 8, so as to permit of vertical adjustment to accommodate the set of the crank-arm 9, according as the switch-points may be on one side or the other of the main track-rails, I provide a plate 21, Fig. 8, with two perforations therein, the one above the other and at proper distances for this adjustment, and the shaft may be inserted through either the upper or the lower of these perforations to accommodate the set of the crank-arm 9 under the condi- ICC tions above mentioned. There are preferably two of these plates, one on each side of the post 8, and they serve simply as bearing-plates for the glass-carrying members 17 and 20 of the semaphore-target, as will be readily understood.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- 1. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination of the movable switohpoints, a switch-stand provided with a breakable crankarm, a connecting-rod uniting said switchpoints and breakable crank-arm and having an extension connected to target-operating mechanism, substantially as described.

2. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination of the movable switchpoints, a switch-stand provided with a breakable crankarm, a connecting-rod uniting said switchpoints and breakable crank-arm, an extension therefrom connected to target-operating mechanism, and a tension-clutch in said target-operating mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination of the movable switch points, a switch-stand provided with a breakable crankarm, a connecting-rod uniting said switchpoints and breakable crank-arm, an extension therefrom connected to target-operating mechanism, and an automatic tension-clutch in said target-operating mechanism, substantially as described.

4. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination of the movable switchpoints, a switch-stand provided with a breakable arm, a connecting-rod uniting said switch-points and breakable crank-arm, an extension therefrom connected to a sem'aphoretarget by means of a crank connection, and an auto matic clutch upon said crank-shaft to insure the proper throwing of the target, substantially as described.

5. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination of the movable switchpoints, a switch-stand provided with a breakable crankarm, a connecting-rod uniting said switchpoints and breakable crank-arm, an extension therefrom connected to a semaphore-target by means of a crank connection, and an automatic clutch upon said crank-shaft to insure the proper throwing of the switch-points, substantially as described.

6. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination of the movable switch points, a switch-stand provided with a breakable cran karm, a connecting-rod uniting said switchpoints and breakable crank-arm, an extension therefrom connected to a semaphore-target by means of a crank connection, and an automatic clutch upon said crank-shaft to insure the proper throwing of the target, and also to insure the proper throwing of the switchpoints, substantially as described.

7 In switch-operating mechanism of the character described, the combination with a combined switch-throwing and target-operating rod, of a crank-shaft to which said rod is connected, one member of a clutch fast on said rod, another member of a clutch loose on said rod but normally engaging the first member, guide-rods for said loose member to prevent it from turning, a spring encircling the shaft and bearing at one end upon the loose member, an adjustable head-piece for the opposite end of said spring, and nuts on the guide-rods for regulating the tension of said spring, substantially as described.

FRANK C. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

EDWARD PEoK, EDWARD SUSSDORF. 

